Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-05


ferred its honors upon me In
the past. / entered the political arena
without desire or solicitation on my
part. and can leave it without regret.
IS the Democratic party OF Virginia
afraid Of itself? And is it for that rea-
son unwilling to call its congress to-
eether TO provide for the common de-
fence and general welfare And il so,
can we afford to go on to the fight,
with enemies to contend with from
within as well as without?
BAD GESERALsHIP.
No good general would d. this and
expect victory to result. have no
fears of the opposition of the Republic
can party pure and simple in our Vir-
GINA campaign. We have met them
too often heretofore on other fields,
when supported by all the power and
patronage of the State and Federal
Governments, to fear them now. The
people Of Virginia will never willingly
commit their interests to that party OF
S ctional hate and political animosities,
whose chief mission in politics seems
to be to disparage and Willy Virgins
and the South. What has that party
in lis long lease of power, controlling
with short intervals the Legislative and
executive departments of the Federal
| Government from the close OF the civil
war to the 4th of March, 1885, done for
our people of Virginia?
INTERNAL REVENUE.
Did it repeal the internalrevenuc
laws, reduce the war taxes, or pass the
Blair educational bill Certainly not
and in my judgment the Republican
party as such never intended to pass
any of these measures Of relief, but il
merely threw them out rs tubs to tho
popular whale, and as catch words with
which to deceive and delude the people
know that there are other orginizi
tons, secret or open, more or less politi
cal in their nature and having rs THEN
hj1cts The protection and advancement
OF class interests, and meritoriOu'
enough perhaps in themselves, bu'
necessarily too limited in their public
scope to do much general good. In
point of fact, but two great political
parties really exist in the country-thC
Democratic and the Republican-and
these new associations sooner or later
must train with one or the other oil
these original organizations.
DISSATISFIED ELEMENTS.
II any Of the dissatisfied element.
referred TO have gone out of our rank;
or are disposed TO 90, / beg them &c
pause and see first ii their grievances
cannot be corrected within the lines OF
the Democratic party. That old or
cauization was founded to protect
the nights and promote the in
tcrests of the masses Of the people,
and whatever may have been It's
shortcomings in the past, it IS still
the only national party thoroughly
identified with popular rights and able
~ It's numbers to resist the encroach'
r.Crts OF unconstitutional power.
MR.. CLEVELAND.
IN Virginia / am well aware there
has been some dissatisfaction in the
Democratic party with the course Of
the Administration i'll regard t. ap
continents and the recognition Of
party services in the distribution Of
cdcral fayors. ! have heretofore ex
pressed my dissent from the earlier
policy pursued by Mr.. Cleveland. The
Democrats of Virginia. by force of cir
cumstapces, are strongly partisan il
sentiment. We had taken but little
heed of the mugwump politics, and
considered that all who were not witt
Ms were against us. Mr. Cleveland came
| from different part OF the country, and
his practical political education wa
acquired in a different school. We il
Virginia had seen the Republican Pre-
sidents turn over the entire Federal pa
tronage to their followers, and naturally
tie Democrats expected the same rule
to prevail IN regard to them. .
course, great deal can be said or
both sides pro and con, but after ali
III making up the whole account an
striking the balance, it will be fount
that a great deal is due Mr.. Cleveland
lie has administered the affairs OF tn
Government with great ability at hOmt
and abroad. and has manifested grea
industry and devotion to details of bust
ness, and acted in accordance with tn
highest standard of private and ofiicia
int, gritty.
TIE SOUTH REPRESENTED.
For the first time in a quarter of
century the southern States are repre-
sented in the Cabinet, and their repre-
sentative men have been again called t.
fill important positions in yariou
branches OF the public service. An
while do not profess to entertain mucl
faith in the perfection of human nature
| think great credit is due to the Demo
cratic President from the Empire Stat
OF the North, who has been willing t
overlook sectional differences and t.
pnt bis trust in the good faith and homo
OF representative southern men, and il
their ability to discharge rightly tn
duties of high official positions, i'll
volying, as many Of these do, the exer
cise of power over important northern
interests. How different this is from Tia
course of the Shermans and Blaines.
1nrning from Federal to our Stat
affairs, / am sure that we are all pre-
pared to approve OF the course of on
own Chief Magistrate and to endors
the administration of Governor Lee a
worthy of the highest popular com
Aendation.
TIE STATE DEBT.
And now, gentlemen of the conven
ton, it would hardly be expected tia
| should conclude this resume of tn
political situation in our State withou
making some reference to that mos
vextd OF all public questions-the Stat
debt. Ii must he regarded as matte
OF the deepest regret that this question
could not have been originally con
sidered from strict business poin
Of view instead of as a subjec
for party capital. The temptation
OF personal ambitions and party ST.
premacy were too aluring for any sucl
result / will not weary your patiencr
by going over the well-worn history O
the passage Of the funding bill an,
other kindred legislation in regard h
the settlement of our State debt
Sufficient be it to say that the origi
nal adjustment was based upon erro
neous assessments of property value
in the State, and could not b.
| carried out successfully. After wear